Sandra L. Moon

Sandra Lynn Moon, 81, of Peoria and formerly of Mineral and Annawan, died at 9:00 p.m. on June 30, 2026, surrounded by family and a constant stream of her favorite music (Elton John, Barry Manilow, Frank Sinatra, Neil Diamond, and Johnny Mathis) at the OSF Richard Owens Hospice facility in Peoria.

Sandra was born and raised on the south side of Chicago, the daughter of Lawrence “Larry” and Shirley Potesak. After graduating from Morgan Park High School and Northern Illinois University, she began her teaching career at Kewanee High School and married David Moon of rural Sheffield. They had three children, Scott, Susan, and Laura.

Sandra decided to be a stay-at-home parent and raise her children while her husband farmed. When all three children were school age, she began a long and enjoyable career as a substitute teacher, primarily in the Annawan School District but also at Bureau Valley High School and several other rural schools in Henry and Bureau Counties. She found time to travel to all 50 states throughout her adult life, as well as consistently having a healthy landscaped yard with meticulous care of her Geraniums and Pacifica Burgundy Halo Vinca.

Her husband died in January 2019. Middle child Susan Hartford of Arlington, Virginia, died unexpectedly in February 2024. Survivors include son Scott of Peoria, son-in-law Jamie Hartford of Arlington, Virginia, and daughter Laura (Eric) Meyer of Chicago, along with five grandchildren she loved dearly who took heart her life lessons to be good students as two are Summa Cum Laude college graduates and the other three are starting to consider their college options.

Visitation will be 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. on July 9, 2026, at the Vandemore Funeral Home in Atkinson, Illinois. A memorial service will follow, led by former Mineral UMC pastor Terry Lancaster. The funeral service will be livestreamed on the Vandemore Funeral Home Facebook page for those unable to attend the service.  Cremation rites will be accorded, and a private burial will be held at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, given her strong belief in Education, donations may be directed to the “Sandra Moon Memorial Fund” and sent to Scott Moon at PO Box 671, Pekin, IL, 61555.  All proceeds will benefit programs and Educational needs in the Annawan School District.